Traveling lawn sprinkler



April 3, 1962 w. D. EGLY 3,028,101

7 TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLER Filed May 4, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 170 INVENTOR. WILLIAM D. EGLY 22 /a ATTORNEY I April 1962 w. D. EGLY 3,028,101

TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLER Filed May 4, 1960 5 sheetswsheet 2 l 8 35 mo INVENTOR.

WILLIAM D. EGLY ATTORNEY W. D. EGLY TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLER April 3, 1962 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1960 v A v w v mv wy 7/ IN V EN TOR.

D. EGLY WILLIAM ATTORNrQY Unite This invention relates to improvements in traveling lawn sprinklers, and more particularly to self-propelled sprinklers of the type which advance themselves by engaging and traveling along an elongated guide member, such as a hose which connects the sprinkler to a source of water under pressure. Examples of sprinklers of this general type are those shown in U.S. Patents No. 2,716,- 573, dated August 30, 1955, and No. 2,835,531, dated May 20, 1958.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, light in weight, easy to position, connect and disconnect and condition for operation, which has a minimum number of operating parts compactly arranged in a novel relation and which is comparatively inexpensive in construction.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel combination and arrangement of parts, wherein relatively shiftable parts carry guide gripping means and are shifted by a double-acting hydraulic pressure member whose operation is controlled automatically and periodically by means responsive to a water reactance discharge sprinkler unit.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel reversing valve operated in response to a rotatable member and serving to control the path of flow of water therethrough to a double-acting reciprocating piston power member.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the device with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a clamping jaw employed in the device;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device with parts shown in section;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the operating arrangement of the parts and the control of fluid flow to effect operation of the device;

FIG. 6 is a view of a modified embodiment of the device with parts shown in section taken at a position indicated by line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a base plate or runner which preferably has an upwardly curved leading end 12. Spaced flanges 14 are upturned and extend longitudinally from the sides of the plate 16) and longitudinal inturned substantially horizontal guide flanges 16 preferably project inwardly from the upper free margins of the flanges 14. A housing 20 is mounted slidably upon the base plate 10, being preferably provided with longitudinal grooves 22 at the lower side marginal portions thereof which receive the base flanges 16 slidably to accommodate longitudinal movement of the housing 20 upon the base plate 10 for guided movement of the parts. The housing 20 preferably mounts an end plate 24 fixedly secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the use of cap screws or other securing members 25. The housing 20 mounts a forwardly projecting longitudinal horizontal States Patent cylinder member 26 whose bore communicates with a bore 27 formed in the housing 20 and extending to the parting face thereof abutting the end plate 24.

The cylinder 26 slidably receives a piston 28 reciprocable therein and having a piston rod 30 connected thereto and extending through an opening in the front wall of the cylinder 26 to project forwardly beyond said cylinder. The outer or free end of the piston rod 30 is connected by suitable securing means 32 tothe laterally projecting arm 34 of a bracket 36 preferably mounted vertically upon the base plate 10 to which it is welded or otherwise fixedly secured at a horizontal bottom flange 38 thereof. The piston 28 is double-acting and reciprocates within the cylinder 26 and serves as a means for varying the relative position of the base plate 10 and housing 20 as will be described.

The housing 20 includes a laterally offset vertically projecting portion 40 and is provided with an upright bore 42 substantially concentric with the housing part 40 opening at the upper end of the projection 40 and terminating spaced above the bottom of the housing 20, as best seen in FIG. 8. A shaft 44 is journaled in the bore 42 and is provided with a worm portion 46 adjacent its lower end. The shaft 44 projects above the housing portion 4-0 and is retained therein by a nut or gland member 48 bearing upon an annular enlarged or shoulder portion 5a. The shaft 44 has a longitudinal bore 52 extending theret-hrough from its upper end to a point adjacent the worm portion 46 thereof and adjacent its inner end has a plurality of apertures 54 therein which are adapted to register with a passage 56 in said housing leading to the parting plane thereof and communicating with an elongated passage defining groove 58 in said parting plane. Said groove is spanned by the housing member 24, as seen in FIG. 8, to complete the passage defined thereby. A T-fitting 60 is mounted on and connected to the upper end of the tubular shaft 44 and elongated sprinkler arm 62 terminate in angularly bent portions 64 which mount sprinkler nozzles 66 to define water reactance sprinkler means which rotate incident to expulsion of water therefrom when said angularly projected portions 64 are oriented to extend in opposite directions in the manner well understood in the art.

The parting face of the housing 20 has a horizontal transverse semi-circular groove 70 formed therein and mounting an elongated tubular member 72 in fixed position, said tubular member projecting into and having a snug fit in a semi-circular groove 74 complementary to the groove '70 and formed in the member 24, as best seen in FIG. 7. The registering grooves 70 and '74 communicate with enlarged chamber defining portions 71 and 75 adjacent one side of the housing 20. The chamber portion 71 communicates with the bore 42 at the portion of said bore in which the worm 46 is located. A shaft 76 is journaled in the tube 72 and mounts thereon a worm gear 78 which meshes with the worm 46 and is removably mounted upon the shaft 76 by suitable securing means including a securing nut 80. The shaft 76 has a reduced diameter portion 82 projecting longitudinally therefrom to accommodate flow of water therearound within the tube to a port 84 in the tube which registers and communicates with the passage-forming groove 58 in the housing 20.

The groove 70 intersects a part of the bore 27 of the housing 20, as best seen in FIG. 6, so that a portion of the tube 72 projects across the mouth of the passage 27. A pair of longitudinally aligned spaced open ngs or ports 85 and 86 are formed in the tube 72 and communicate with the passage 27. A second set of openings or ports is formed in the tube 72 including an opening 87 preferably diametrically opposed to opening 85 and opening 88 preferably diametrically opposed to opening 86. A

groove 91) is formed in the parting face of the housing 20 to provide communication between the openings 37 and 38. One of these openings communicates with a bore or passage 22 which extends through the housing and through a wall of the cylinder 26 to communicate with the bore of cylinder 26 at the free end thereof at 94, as best seen in FIG. 4. The grooves 76 and 74 terminate in reduced portions 96 which open at a side face of the housing structure 20, 24. Reduced portions 96 communicate with the tube 72 to define an outlet for water discharged from the operating cylinder 26, as will be explained.

The housing part 24 has a passage 1% extending therethrough into communication with a chamber 102 in the housing 20, which chamber 102 communicates with an opening 104 in the tube 72. A valve housing tube 165 is seated in the openings 1%, 102 and mounts a valve element 103, such as a sphere, normally urged by liquid pressure toward seated position. A coupling 110 is screw-threaded in the bore 1% and mounts a fitting 112 to which is adapted to be connected a coupling 114 carried by the end of an elongated flexible hose 116 adapted for connection with a source of water supply.

A valve element is mounted upon the shaft 82 and preferably constitutes a cylindrical valve body 12% having a snug rotative fit in the tube 72. The cylindrical member is cut away at one side thereof at 122 for a portion of its length coinciding with and adapted to register with the openings 85 and 87. At its opposite end the member 120 is cut away for part of its length at 124 diametrically opposite the cut-away 122 and positioned as to be adapted to register with the openings 86 and 83. The cylinder 12%? is of a diameter to substantially seal the bore of the tube '72 but to be freely rotatable therein as driven by the worm gear set 46, '73.

It will be observed that water from the hose 116 which enters at the inlet 1% passes into the tube 72 at 1% when the valve 108 is unseated. Water flows in the tube to the passage 58 and thence into the bore 52 of the shaft 44 for discharge through the sprinkler arms 62 and nozzles 66. The discharge from the nozzles 66 rotates the shaft 44 and thus drives the worm 46 with which worm gear 78 meshes in order to rotate the valve shaft 82.

Water also flows in the tube 72 toward the valve 120 for flow past the flat portion 122 thereof to one or the other of the openings '35 and $7. For this purpose the circumferential extent of the fiat 122 will be substantially equal to the circumferential spacing between the openings 85 and S7, or slightly less than such circumferential spacing, so that the inlet d will be in communication with one or the other of the passages 85 and 87 for the major portion of the time during operation of the device. Assuming that the valve is in the position shown in FIG. 5, water from the inlet 10% will flow through the tube 72 and the passages 87, 92 and 94 into the cylinder chamber to act upon the piston 28 to move it toward the left, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 5. Water in the cylinder which is displaced by the advance of the piston 23 flow through the opening 86 into the tube 72 past the fiat 124 of the valve and thence flows to the outlet 96 for discharge.

As the shaft 44 rotates, the rotary valve 121} is rotated in a predetermined timed relation determined by the gear ratio of the worm 46 and gear 78 until such time as the movement is suflicient to permit the flat 122 to uncover the port 85 and the flat 124 to uncover the port 88 while the valve body 1211 simultaneously closes the ports 86 and 87. Thereupon, water from the inlet 100 flowing through the tube 72 will flow to the port 85 and into the cylinder bore to act against the piston 28 in a manner to push the piston rod 33 upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 5. Water displaced by this movement of the piston is discharged through passages 94 and 88 into the tube 72 past the fiat 124 and thence flows to the outlet 96. Thus it will be apparent that rotation of the control valve 129 occurs in predetermined relation to rotation of the sprinkler head and produces oscillation of the piston 28 with resultant sliding of the housing 20 upon the base plate 11).

Each of the relatively shiftable parts mounts a clamp for gripping a guide, such as the hose, in such a manner as to permit relative movement thereof with respect to the guide in one direction, and to prevent such relative movement thereof relative to the guide in the opposite direction. Each of these clamps may be of the character illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the clamp shoe 130 is carried by the bracket 136, and clamp shoe 132 is carried by the housing 20.

In the form shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bracket 36 mounting the shoe 130 also mounts a support or guide 134 preferably having a grooved upper surface, upon which a portion of the hose 116 is supported, and which may be formed of rubber or other material providing frictional engagement with the hose to resist sliding of the hose thereon when the hose is pressed firmly thereagainst. The bracket 36 also has an overhanging cantilevered portion 136 normally spaced above the friction pad 134 and having a shaft 138 pivoted therein and mounting an elongated arm 140 which carries the clamp shoe 1345 and extends in a direction toward the housing 2! The clamp shoe 130 is preferably an elongated shoe curved lengthwise thereof and also curved transversely thereof and adapted to engage frictionally a portion of the hose 116 regardless of the cross-sectional dimension of that hose within the usual range of dimensions of ordinary garden hose and hose couplers. An elongated coil spring 142 is anchored at one end to the shoe 130 intermediate the length of the latter at 144 and is anchored at its opposite end to the overhead portion 136 of the bracket at 146 at a point below the level of the pivot shaft 138 and preferably spaced longitudinally therefrom so that when the spring 142 is tensioned it acts to swing the shoe 130 downwardly and thereby press the shoe 130 against the hose.

A similar mounting for the shoe 132 relative to the housing 20 is provided. Thus the housing 20 has a cantilevered support 15!) positioned above a recess in the upper parts of the housing members 20 and 24 at 152 through which the hose 116 passes freely and upon which said hose may rest in the attitude and elevation seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, with the shoe 132 pressing downwardly thereon. The hose clamping shoe 132 is carried by an elongated arm 152 pivoted to the bracket by a shaft 154 and pressed downwardly by a spring 156 connected to an intermediate portion thereof and to the bracket 15% in the same manner described previously. It will be observed that the shoe 132 extends from its mounting bracket 15% in the same direction as the shoe 130 extends from its mounting bracket 136. Thus, as viewed in FIG. 1, shoes 130 and 132 serve to permit movement of the respective parts which carry the same toward the right relative to the hose, but to prevent movement thereof to the left relative to the hose.

Inasmuch as the parts 26) and 36 are constantly varying in their relative spacing incident to the operation of the device, as described above, it will be apparent that when the parts are at their closest spacing, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the operation of the power member commences to move them in a manner to separate them, namely, in a manner tending to move the member 36 to the right and the member 20 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, the occurrence of movement tending to slide the member 20 to the left causes the shoe or gripper 132 to firmly grasp and engage the hose 116 and prevent movement or sliding of the part 20 on the hose. The part 36, however, is free to move to the right with the shoe 13%) sliding upon the hose and, as it does so, it carries the base 10 with it, sliding it upon the ground. This operation continues until the parts 36 and 2t) reach their maximum spacing and the operation of the hydraulic mechanism of the device commences to draw the parts 36 and 20 toward each other. This introduces a tendency to move the member 36 toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the member 20 toward the right. Movement of the member 36 toward the left is resisted by the grip of the gripper 130 upon the hose, but the grip of member 132 upon the hose is released. Consequently, the member 36 takes a stationary position upon the hose, and the member 20 is drawn forwardly along the hose. The cycle of operations just described is repeated successively as the piston 28 oscillates in cylinder 26, and this results in a progressive advance of the sprinkler along the hose 116 toward the end of the hose which is connected to a faucet or hydrant.

The housing 20 is provided with a passage 168 preferably extending upwardly from the chamber 1&2 and a valve actuator 162 is slidable endwise in and is rotatable in the passage 16th At its upper end the member 162 may have a laterally projecting portion 164 adapted to engage a stop (not shown) carried by the hose 116. The member 162 extends into the chamber 102 and terminates in a beveled face 166 positioned adjacent the spherical valve element 103 in one position as illustrated in FIG. 7. The face 166 permits the valve element 108 to seat in the valve housing 106 to close the inlet of the device. A position at 90 degrees to that shown in FIG. 7 produces displacement or unseating of the valve. It will be apparent that the rotative position or the longitudinal position of the member 162 will determine whether the valve 108 is open or closed, and this position can be changed in any manner found suitable for the purpose of stopping the operation of the device at a selected point upon the hose 116 by providing an abutment (not shown) fixed upon the hose and extending in a position to engage and trip or shift the member 162 to a valve-closing position when the device reaches the position at which the stop member is set upon the hose.

A modified construction of hose-gripping member is illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the hose bears upon a support 170 and is engaged by an elongated longitudinally and transversely curved saddle type of shoe or gripper member 172 having a longitudinally projecting arm 174 pivoted spaced above the hose 116 at 176 with respect to an overhead support 178. The support 178 also serves to anchor at 180 one end of an elongated leaf spring 182 preferably bent to S-shape, as shown, and engaging at 184 the upper free end portion of the shoe 172. FIG. 3 illustrates in dotted lines the manner in which the gripper shoe 172 may be swung upwardly against the action of the spring 182 for the purpose of permitting freedom of threading of the hose in the device. Such release of the parts is also provided with respect to the construction of the shoe heretofore described and identified as shoes 130 and 132.

Another construction of shoe and arrangement thereof with respect to the housing 20 is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein it will be seen that the housing 20, 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 190 in its upper face into which the hose 116 is introduced. A gripper shoe 192, of substantially the same shape and configuration as the shoes 130 and 172 previously described, has an elongated arm 194 at one end thereof which is pivoted by means of a pin 196 within a transverse slot portion 198. A leaf spring 200 carried by the housing 20 and bearing against an intermediate portion of the shoe serves to press the same laterally into engagement with the hose 116 to effect the required grip or anchorage of the hose relative to the housing. This arrangement permits ready release of the hose by swinging the shoe clear of the hose and otherwise operates similarly to the grippers 130 and 172.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the device is simple by reason of the fact that it requires only one double'acting hydraulic oscillating power member, and the further reason that it provides a simple directly driven valve associated with the water reactance sprinkler head for reversing the direction of operation of the oscillating power member. This reduces the number of parts to a minimum and at the same time makes possible reduction of the cost of construction of the device to a minimum, and likewise reduces the weight of the device, so that it may be handled or carried easily and may be set and adjusted by women or by children who are unable to exert great physical edort. The device is easily conditioned for operation by connecting the same to a hose and threading the hose therethrough to operatively present the gripper members of the relatively movable parts for gripping engagement with the hose. The device also possesses the advantage that it can be disassembled readily for adjustment or repair or for replacement of parts.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler comprising a base, a housing slidable on said base, a rotatable water reactance member journaled in said housing, a double-acting oscillating hydraulic power member including a part fixedly carried by said housing and a part fixedly carried by said base, a water passage in said housing communicating with said reactance member and with said power member and including an inlet and an outlet, a flexible hose connected to said inlet a valve rotatable in said water passage to control the path of flow of water through said power member from said inlet to said outlet, valve rotating means actuated by said water reactance member, and a pair of hose-engaging clamps carried by said base and said housing, respectively, each clamp accommodating movement thereof relative to said base in one direction only.

2. A sprinkler comprising a pair of relatively slidable parts, a double-acting oscillating hydraulic power member connecting said parts and controlling the relative positions thereof, a water reactance member rotatable on one part, a reversing valve driven by said power member and controlling the operation of said power member, and a pair of clamps carried by said respective relatively shiftable parts and each gripping an elongated guide and accommodating movement thereof relative to said guide in one direction only.

3. A sprinkler comprising a pair of relatively slidable parts, a guide-gripping clamp carried by each part, each clamp accommodating movement thereof on said guide in one direction only, a double-acting extensible hydraulic power member carried by one part and connected to the other part, a water reactance sprinkler unit carried by said one part, and means actuated by said sprinkler unit for controlling the flow of water successively in alternate paths to said power member.

4. A sprinkler comprising a pair of relatively slidable parts, a guide-gripping clamp carried by each part, each clamp accommodating movement thereof on said guide in one direction only, a double-acting extensible hydraulic power member carried by one part and connected to the other part, a water reactance sprinkler unit carried by said one part, means actuated by said sprinkler unit for controlling the flow of water successively in alternate paths to said power member, and guide means associated with said slidable parts.

5. A sprinkler comprising a pair of relatively slidable parts, a guide-gripping clamp carried by each part, each clamp accommodating movement thereof in said guide in one direction only, a double-acting extensible hydraulic power member carried by one part and connected to the other part, a water reactance sprinkler unit carried by said one part, and means actuated by said sprinkler unit for controlling the flow of water successively in alternate paths to said power member, said flow control means including a passage connecting an inlet with said sprinkler unit and with an outlet, said power member having spaced connections with said passage between said inlet and said outlet, and a valve rotatable in said passage by said sprinkler unit to periodically reverse the direction of flow of water in the connections communicating with said power member.

6. A sprinkler as defined in claim 5, wherein two connections branch from longitudinally spaced parts of said passage and communicate with one part of said power member, and two connections branch from said passage in circumferentially spaced relation to said first named connections and communicate with another part of said power member and with each other.

7. A sprinkler as defined in claim 5, wherein two connections branch from longitudinally spaced parts of said passage and communicate with one part of said power member, and two connections branch from said passage in circumferentially spaced relation to said first named connections and communicate with another part of said power member and with each other, said valve having a cylindrical body cut away on opposite sides at the ends thereof and adapted to register with said connections to accommodate flow in selected connections and in selected directions in diiferent rotative positions thereof.

8. In a sprinkler, a housing having a plurality of passages therein extending from an inlet to an outlet, a water reactance sprinkler unit journaled in said housing and connected with a passage in constant communication with said inlet, a double-acting power member having a single piston reciprocating in a cylinder, two branch passages connecting said inlet and outlet, said respective branch passages being connected with opposite ends of said cylinder, and a valve rotatable by said sprinkler unit to alternate periodically the direction of the flow of Water in said branch passages, and thereby reciprocate said piston in said cylinder.

9. In a sprinkler, a housing having an elongated passage communicating at longitudinally spaced points with an inlet and an outlet, a valve plug rotatable in said passage between said inlet and outlet and having oppositely oriented cut-outs at opposite ends thereof, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a pair of branch passages communicating with each other and with one end of said cylinder and communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs, and a second pair of branch passages communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs and each circumferentially spaced from a first branch passage, said second branch passages communicating with each other and with the other end of said cylinder, and power operated means for continuously rotating said valve plug in said first passage to periodical alternate flow in said branch passages from said inlet to said cylinder and from said cylinder to said outlet and thereby effect reciprocation of said piston.

10. In a sprinkler, a housing having an elongated passage communicating at longitudinally spaced points with an inlet and an outlet, a valve plug rotatable in said passage between said inlet and outlet and having oppositely oriented cut-outs at opposite ends thr0f, a cylinder, a

piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a pair of branch passages communicating with each other and with one end of said cylinder and communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs, and a second pair of branch passages communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs and each circumferentially spaced from a first branch passage, said second branch passages communicating with each other and with the other end of said cylinder, means for rotating said valve plug in said first passage and a rotatable sprinkler journaled in said housing and communicating with said first passage, said valverotating means being driven by said sprinkler to periodically alternate flow in said branch passage from said inlet to said cylinder and from said cylinder to said outlet and thereby eiiect reciprocation of said piston.

11. In sprinkler, a housing having an elongated passage communicating at longitudinally spaced points with an inlet and an outlet, a valve plug rotatable in said passage between said inlet and outlet and having oppositely oriented cut-outs at opposite ends thereof, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a pair of branch passages communicating with each other and with one end of said cylinder and communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs, and a second pair of branch passages communicating with said first passage at longitudinally aligned points adapted to register with said valve cut-outs and each circumferentially spaced from a first branch passage, said second branch passages communicating with each other and with the other end of said cylinder, means for rotating said valve plug in said first passage, a rotatable sprinkler journaled in said housing and communicating with said first passage, said sprinkler having a worm aligned with and accessible at said first passage, a shaft mounting said valve plug and fitting with clearance in a part of said passage, and a gear mounted on said shaft in said first passage and meshing with said worm.

12. In a sprinkler, a housing having a plurality of passages therein extending from an inlet to an outlet, a Water reactance sprinkler unit journaled in said housing and connected with a passage in constant communication with said inlet, a double-acting power member having a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, two branch passages connecting said inlet and outlet, said respective branch passages being connected with opposite ends of said cylinder, and a valve rotatable by said sprinkler unit to alternate periodically the direction of the flow of water in said branch passages and thereby reciprocate said piston in said cylinder, said outlet being spaced lengthwise of said passage from said inlet and said valve being interposed between said inlet and outlet and having oppositely oriented cut-away portions at its ends adapted to register with branch passages communicating with both ends of said cylinder in all operative rotative positions thereof.

References fitted in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,472 Rice Nov. 24, 1953 2,661,724 Blenkle Dec. 8, 1953 

